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Coupons|Pad Patter 3.8

bestcee

bestcee

In love with places I've never been to
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
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I used to be a big coupon user. I would collect them, trade them, and use them to stockpile laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc. Then I realized that even if that item only cost me $.50, I still had to store it until we used it! I enjoyed trying out new things with sales and coupons, but it took a lot of time and effort.

So, I took the other extreme. No coupons at all. Unless it is on the package when I pick it up to buy, I don't use them at all.

How about you? Do you use coupons? I believe they are more common in the US; less in Canada, and I have no knowledge of other countries. Are coupons plentiful in your country?
 
Like you, I don't use coupons at all unless it is on the package or jar when I pick it up to buy.

I don't even read the sales flyers because I found that when I did, I would be enticed into buying something that I wouldn't normally buy anyway. I just buy what I need, when I need it, and if it is on sale, I might pick up an extra box to store in the pantry, but I have limited space so that doesn't happen too often.

I think the really crazy great deals from flyers are mainly in the US anyway. When I'm down in Phoenix visiting my parents I've noticed that even produce can be put on a really great deal, but that doesn't really happen all that often where I live (in Alberta).
 
bestcee said:
I used to be a big coupon user. I would collect them, trade them, and use them to stockpile laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc.
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Oh, I did this for years! My favorite was when Publix would have a great Buy One Get One Free sale AND I had a coupon for it that they would double. They allowed you to buy just one item and get it half price or to buy both and use a coupon on each. I was one of those crazy people who could get a grocery total down to almost nothing if I planned carefully.

I wish I still had time for that, but sadly I don't. My new favorite is the Target Cartwheel app. I don't have to clip anything- I can just scan an item's barcode with my phone camera and see if there are any deals in the app for it. They also put things in it for anywhere from 30%-50% off regularly, and I've gotten everything from LED Christmas lights to yogurt to expansion packs for Lego Dimensions for my XBox at 50% off with it.
 
scrappyjedi said:
My favorite was when Publix would have a great Buy One Get One Free sale AND I had a coupon for it that they would double. They allowed you to buy just one item and get it half price or to buy both and use a coupon on each. I was one of those crazy people who could get a grocery total down to almost nothing if I planned carefully.
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Yep. I didn't have a Publix, and I was jealous of those that did. Target and the drug stores was where I had to grab a candy at checkout so they didn't owe me. I totally forgot about the Cartwheel app! I'll have to reload that on my phone.
 
I used to re coupons but again I don't like to stock pile so coupons would expire before I needed some things. I do have fun with the Walmart Shopping saver... I put in my receipt when I return from grocery shopping and if there is a lower price in close by stores they give me a credit. I have used about $200 on a gift card from savings over the last year or so... in 4 weeks now I am up to $20 and that is on normal things I buy like coffee and cheerios that are cheaper elsewhere. :)
 
I used to do the grocery game years ago... but fell off that wagon. I didn't mind it, saved way more than the $5 I spent a month, and got oodles of free items that were useful.

I've veered away from that for some time, but do use store coupons, flyers and things to plan out my menu. Plus, seasonal and farm markets too!
 
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They're not really a thing here at all. When I lived in the US, I only used them if they were for something I was going to buy anyway.
 
Rarely. I don't eat most of the things coupons are for. Now if they'd offer coupons for fruits, veggies, meat, and dairy products, that would be awesome!
 
I also don't think coupons are as big a thing in Canada as they are in the US. I don't think we can use them the same way. So, I rarely use coupons. Usually they expire before I get around to it or I forget about them. Really, I just have a grocery budget and a list. If I have extra money left once my list is filled, I may stock up on a few things that are on a good sale but I try to just buy what I need. I try to remember that it may be on a good sale right now but it will go on sale again...I don't need to stockpile.
 
I try to avoid processed food so I don't use coupons almost at all. For detergent etc, well two adults don't use much and it's not worth my time to cut and sort and deal with the whole process.
 
I don't do the grocery shopping, so my short answer is Nope, I don't coupon. But the longer answer is, DH cooks so he grocery shops. He has an app for the local grocery store and he'll check it for coupons for the items on his list. While technically we have space to keep items if we were couponers, I don't want 50 tubes of toothpaste sitting on a shelf in my basement lol. And like @HeatherB we've found that we buy things we don't need if we search the weekly ads too hard (especially with 2 little ones looking at the pics). DH looks to see if what we need is on sale, and he'll base a meal or two on whichever meat is on sale (chicken, ground beef, etc), but that's it. What we buy doesn't usually have coupons. It would be awesome if a bunch of bananas had a "buy 1lb, get 1 free!" coupon attached. ;)
 
I try to plan my meals around what is on sale, but I don't really use many coupons. I do notice that I buy junk food that I normally wouldn't buy, like @HeatherB said. I DO try to use my coupons from the drug store rewards card. I will frequently get a $6 off $30 purchase, so I will try to stock up on something I know gets used - like deodorant or vitamins or oral care.
 
I tried. Downloaded all the coupon plug ins and printed things offline. Hubby is convinced I ruined our computer with those.
One thing I remember was "you can't be brand specific to coupon" and unfortunately with our family's allergies and stuff, we have to be. And I remember the time... hubby would say "let's go grocery shopping " and two days later I'd feel ready finally after scouring for all coupons. It was ridiculous. Lol

I regularly use Ibotta, target cartwheel, and occasionally shopkick, too. I've also used Jing it, and Snap by Groupon, but it seems those have ceased to be working apps.

I use store apps when I'm out and about to see if they have current scannable coupons.

Oh and, fry's (meyers/kroger /etc) sends us coupons for things we buy, so I use those too.
 
HAH, talk about memories! I was one of those coupon queens back about 30 years or so. They hated to see me come in the store. I could put $80 worth of groceries in my cart and end up paying $5.00. It was my full time at home job!! I would buy 6 Sunday papers to get all the coupons! I had one spare room that was just my coupon room. Slowly that fell by the wayside and now if I have one coupon, thats a lot.
Can someone explain the Walmart Shopper Saver to me. What do you do with your receipt? The only big stores we have here are Walmart and Meijers, along with the usual drug stores.
 
I only clip coupons for things that I know will get used. Coupons are now being printed with very short expiration dates. I just went through some coupon flyers today and, of the coupons I cut out, most expire at the end of March,a few in April. The coupons that I use the most are from the actual grocery store which combined with loyalty card specials can add up to a hefty amount on things I would be buying anyway. Today I saved over $45 which was fine by me.
 
I use a few coupons here and there, but I figured out that for the most part, I can get store brands of most things cheaper than name brands with a coupon.
 
NancyP said:
HAH, talk about memories! I was one of those coupon queens back about 30 years or so. They hated to see me come in the store. I could put $80 worth of groceries in my cart and end up paying $5.00. It was my full time at home job!! I would buy 6 Sunday papers to get all the coupons! I had one spare room that was just my coupon room. Slowly that fell by the wayside and now if I have one coupon, thats a lot.
Can someone explain the Walmart Shopper Saver to me. What do you do with your receipt? The only big stores we have here are Walmart and Meijers, along with the usual drug stores.
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I've only used it once or twice because we don't go there often. But I'm pretty sure you just scan the QR code at the bottom of your receipt within the app, and it does the rest. All it does is compares prices, and if something was on sale near the area, it will refund you the difference to a walmart gift card.
 
I cut them out all the time. Then I forget to take them with me to the store. By the time I remember, they've expired.
 
I did coupons for a while & I occasionally look at the sale ad, but I tend to just plan our meals around what is cheap to feed a family of 7 anyways. I probably should pick up a sale ad more often and see what is on sale, that might help our grocery bill.
 
Ooh, no. I do use the Target Cartwheel app but I never buy something just to use a coupon (except at the Lilypad, but that is different!). If there is a coupon hanging near the item, which our commissary does quite often, I will use four of them and stock up if it is something I was going to buy anyway. We're only allowed up to 4 of the same coupon. I have found that most coupons are for items I never buy.
 
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